keelah se'lai

i'm a perpetual work in progress

[lifeinpoetry]

Sweet mother, I cannot weave – slender Aphrodite has overcome me with longing for a girl.

Sappho, from Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works tr. Diane Rayor (via lifeinpoetry)

#the more i look at this the more i love it #aphrodite just slam dunked this poor lady into the gay zone #can’t get anything fuckin done today too busy getting wrecked over girls #aphrodite i had some shit to do today i was gonna make a new chiton #aphrodite could you please stop mopping the floor with my face i had chores #not cool#my mom’s not gonna understand this aphrodite #she’s going to be like ‘okay well do the dishes’ #HOW CAN I DO THE DISHES WHEN I AM THIS GAY APHRODITE #HOW??

(via rainbowbarnacle)

[saturnsings]

Harry Potter Crossover Aesthetic: Slytherin and Hufflepuff Houses

“She’s got blonde hair and pale skin, I have black hair and a tanned body. She has green eyes, I have hazel. She is the sun, and I am the moon.”

[discworldquotes]

It was a cottage of questioning witches, research witches. Eye of what newt? What species of ravined salt-sea shark? It’s all very well a potion calling for Love-in-idleness, but which of the thirty-seven common plants called by that name in various parts of the continent was actually meant? The reason that Granny Weatherwax was a better witch than Magrat was that she knew that in witchcraft it didn’t matter a damn which one it was, or even if it was a piece of grass. The reason that Magrat was a better doctor than Granny was that she thought it did.

Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies (via discworldquotes)

[theperksofbeingabookseller]

I sell books like medicine. There are books that are suitable for a million people, others only for a hundred. There are even medicines - sorry, books - that are written for one person only.

Nina George, The Little Paris Bookshop (via theperksofbeingabookseller)

[violentwavesofemotion-deactivat]

An honorable human relationship — that is, one in which two people have the right to use the word “love” — is a process, delicate, violent, often terrifying to both persons involved, a process of refining the truths they can tell each other. It is important to do this because it breaks down human self-delusion and isolation. It is important to do this because in doing so we do justice to our own complexity. It is important to do this because we can count on so few people to go that hard way with us. It isn’t that to have an honorable relationship with you, I have to understand everything, or tell you everything at once, or that I can know, beforehand, everything I need to tell you. It means that most of the time I am eager, longing for the possibility of telling you. That these possibilities may seem frightening, but not destructive, to me. That I feel strong enough to hear your tentative and groping words. That we both know we are trying, all the time, to extend the possibilities of truth between us.

Adrienne Rich, On Lies, Secrets & Silence (via skunkdoily)

one of my favorite essays

(via galagalactic)

[alostdandelion]

Why should I be sad? I have lost someone who didn’t love me. But they lost someone who loved them.

a positive way to look at a shitty situation (via upabovetheworld)

WOAH

(via offendwhitedevils)

THIS.

(via exco)

[medievalpoc]

Fiction week!

Binti

by Nnedi Okorafor

Nnedi Okorafor’s work gives you everything you crave stylistically about Fantasy and Sci Fi, but incorporates ideas so unprecedented they could easily outshine the characters and the plot. But my favorite thing about each tale I’ve read from this author is that she doesn’t ever allow that to happen-the characters and the action shine just as brightly, if not more so, than the innovative concepts that turn the wheels of the plot.

Binti is relatively short, but it’s a very intense story that reads like the best parts of a novel that another author might have stretched out with filler and awkward descriptions. You won’t find any of that here; there is no respite from the tension that will carry you all the way through to its conclusion without a pause to catch your breath. By which I mean, this is a breathtaking story.

Binti is a uniquely talented young person from the Himba people, who are sticklers for tradition and not overly fond of outsiders. Despite this, Binti’s love for mathematics and the magic she can work with numbers and formulas has driven her to apply to Oomza University, the most prestigious academic institution in the known universe. Although she is the first of the Himba people to be accepted, her family and community are less than thrilled and forbid her to go.

Binti is of course undeterred by their disapproval, and begins her journey armed only with her talent, a jar of the cleansing clay her people rub into their hair and skin, and a strange artifact from her homeland, whose secrets have yet to reveal themselves. She faces a great deal of judgement from those who consider her people provincial, isolationist, and backwards, but she remains fast in her goal to attend the prestigious university where she will be able to achieve her dreams and maybe even unlock the mystery of her artifact-and then, of course, something unforeseeably terrible happens.

Do yourself a favor and read this novella. Coming of age has never been quite this weird.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

[thesigilwitch]

Hello Dana, i wanted to ask your help. It's nothing really urgent, it's mostly out of curiosity to be honest. The thing is, i love your blog's content but all i know from witchcraft comes from harry potter and supernatural so it's really not much, if anything reliable at all. Could you please give me some information about witchcraft? Thank you x

I can give you links to tons of information. :D

Becoming a Witch (an ask) [breelandwalker]

Beginner Witchcraft [stormsorceress]

Beginner Witchcraft Resources Masterpost [witchtips]

Books and Resources (Paganism, Witchcraft and More) [natural-magics]

For a Beginner (an ask) [natural-magics]

FAQ [witchcraftings]

Frequently Asked Questions [natural-magics]

Getting Started [bibliophilicwitch]

Guide to Witching [smol-witch]

How Do You Even Begin? [gardenofthequeen]

“I’m interested in witchcraft, where do I start?” [cunningcelt]

Introduction to Magic [windvexer]

Limited Witchcraft Masterpost [recreationalwitchcraft]

Masterpost of Masterposts [ravenbywolf]

The Newbie Witch - What Others Often Don’t Tell You About Beginning the Practice [neveira-the-witch]

Secular Witchcraft Tumblr Resource Masterpost [henthark]

So…You Wanna Be a Witch? [thecuriousviolet]

Tips for Beginner Witches (an ask) [thesigilwitch]

Tips for Beginners (an ask) [oldmotherredcap]

Tips for Extremely New Witches (an ask) [violetwitchcraft]

Tips for Those Who Are Considering Witchcraft [tarigrove]

Welcome to Witchcraft - A Post for Beginners [original post removed]

Witchcraft 101 [magicusersresource]

Witchcraft 101 [the-darkest-of-lights]

Witchcraft Resources Galore! [gardenofthequeen]

Witchtips’ Rebloggable “Frequently Asked Questions” - Part I [witchtips]

[rooshoes]

[visardistofelphame]

Seeing you answer that question about the Devil sparked a bunch of questions in me... I don't want to sound ignorant or anything and if i do, I am sorry. What is the Devil's purpose in witchcraft? I have been a witch for a few years, I started out Wiccan but after a while chose to just remain Pagan, and I was always told there is no Devil in the craft. So seeing you answer that question about the Devil and gender has me very confused. Any knowledge you could give me would be appreciated.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of hate and rejection towards this. A lot of folks completely want to be away from anything Christian, yet want to be seen as peaceful and be accepted by Christian religions. Basically, white washing or censoring of witchcraft.

However, the devil in witchcraft is a historically accurate thing. But, a lot of people don’t understand who the witches’ devil is, and what his purpose is. 

For my particular tradition and belief, you should read these two posts

The Devil is a Fairy King

Fairies and Witches: the relationship between the two

The Devil of the Witches’ is also known as the Witch Father. He is the source of witch blood. In the lore of the British Isles, he is a the great initiator. He is the familiar king. The one that grants spirit initiation and gives the witch their familiar(s). 

In the Sabbatic craft, he is the father of Cain. Cain being the first sorcerer, the first witch. 

In Aradai; Gospel of the Witches, he is the father of Aradia, who goes forth to teach witchcraft to oppressed people.

So in these traditions, practices, and beliefs, he is literally the father of witches. He helped spawn it into existence, and he gave spark to the witch blood. 

In some traditions: Witches historically identified with the Devil as an ally against the horrors and atrocities of the Church.  Classical Witches embraced the idea of the biblical Satan as a positive force that protected their freedom and survival. Today we re-invoke the notion of the Devil as a symbol of resistance to Wicca and other Neo-Pagans who seek to deprive us of our true history and heritage.

I would definitely suggest reading: Call of the Horned Piper by Nigel Jackson. It talks about the Witches’ Devil in greater detail. 

things for you to read/listen to

The Bucca

The Devil

The Man in Black

Better the Devil you know

the devil and witchcraft

Podcast of the Devil’s dozen

Authentic Witchcraft: The Historical Tradition Revealed by Grayson Magnus

Aradia, Gospel of the Witches

more reading here

For me and many, the devil is a deity of nature. Even the bible says, Satan is a god of the world, of the earth (2 Corinthians 4:4).

He is the one we call upon during our rites in Counter Mass, to drive out ignorance and superstitions. To destroy the oppressors of the world, and to teach us the rites of poison. 

As I see it, the devil of the witches is a combination of folklore beings (such as local fairies or deities) mixed along with the devil of Christianity. Why do we refer to such a being as such? For various reasons. Historical connection and recognition, spiritual importance, a desire to seek what others fear and to know it. 

Rambled a bit, but I hope this helps you out~

[iopanosiris-deactivated20210713]

I’ll just add, Sabbatic Craft also utilizes faerie lore. Along with the mythos and lore surrounding the medieval Witches’ Sabbath, both the Wild Hunt and retinue of Fae play an important role in the tradition. Lady Lilith is associated with the Queen of Elphame, often considered Prima Mater of the fairy or eleven bloodline. The Devil as daemon may then be associated with the Fairy King. It might also be important to note that Sabbatic Craft is Luciferian in nature, therefore the Devil is not equated with the Christian mythologized bogey Satan; instead, he is the Serpent of Light who manifests in dual-form as both Illuminer and Opposer. 

Nigel Jackson and Michael Howard summed it up rather nicely in their book The Pillars of Tubal-Cain:

“The Horned God of the witches, variously identified with Cernunnos, Pan, Janus, Dianus, Herne and Puck, was popularly known as the Dark Satyr or Man in Black in the medieval witches’ sabbath. He is linked with Sutekh-Set, with the Yezidic Shaitan, with the Islamic lord of the djinns Eblis or Iblis, the Greek Lucifer and the Hebrew Azazel. The Horned One of the Sabbatic Craft is the Great Serpent of Light who guides his disciples to the gnosis of the Supreme Awakening and the ultimate goal of unity with the Godhead.”

[thebeardedwitch-deactivated2017]

Oh man, all of his gave me so much feels!

[elfqueendream99-blog]

[staceythinx]

Flower petal and gold infused jewelry from the livinlovin store on Etsy 

[rhiannonmcgavin]

yes i am a triple threat!! spilling drinks, screaming, and shedding long strands of hair everywhere

[adapto]

Alphonse Mucha

Natures (1900)

[miyku]

Garrus Vakarian •ICONS•

[movingtocrowbiwan-blog]

[ladychronica]

Cleansing Techniques for Low Spoon Days

I’m really glad this was requested because it’s an issue a lot of people face and one I’ve run into a lot during my studies. I totally understand why people say that everything should be clean and organized for a good, thorough cleanse, but that just isn’t realistic or possible for everyone. Some days you can do it, other days it feels like you’re staring down Mount Everest.

So I’m gonna share some of the cleansing methods I use that help on low spoon days.

Music - There’s no catch-all for this one. Everyone will have a different type of music that does the trick, and that genre will change depending on what you need in that moment. Sometimes I blast Icon for Hire, other times I’ll go with Cirque Du Soleil or Kevin Kern. It doesn’t matter what you listen to so long as it makes your space and you feel better.

Open Up a Window - I’m not a huge nature witch, but I’ve found it very helpful to have fresh air blowing into my home, especially when there’s a lot of negative crap circling around me. Sometimes on bad depression days I’ll just stand in front of the window and let the air wash over me. I combine this one a lot with the first method.

Scented Candles 1 - If you have the ability to light candles choose a scent that makes you feel good and light ‘em up. Sit close to a lit candle for added bonus of aiding in mental cleansing.

Scented Candles 2 - This is gonna sound weird, mostly because it is. If you have floor/rug space enough to vacuum, take a scented candle that you like, carve it so that you’re left with a bunch of shavings, and sprinkle them all over your rug/floor. Depending on your preferences you may want to vacuum them up after an hour or two. But if you want to leave them, less work for you and easier on the spoons. You can sprinkle them under rugs or welcome mats for the same effect and no one will know they’re there. I’ve done this a few times and as weird as it seems, I’ve found it very helpful.

Tea - If you’re not too worried about potentially attracting little bug friends, you can do the fourth method with tea leaves instead of candle shavings. Some people might find this more effective because of the cleansing properties of many herbal teas.

Air Fresheners - Find an air freshener that really leaves your space smelling fresh and clean. Inscribe the bottom or side of the container with a sigil designed for cleansing.

Boil Water - I do this a lot when my house is too dry, so why not when it needs a cleanse, too? You can add things to the water to aid in cleansing. I usually do crisp apples, orange peels, cinnamon, anything that I personally associate with cleansing. Find out what works for you, load it up, and leave the sucker there to boil.

Salt - I can already imagine the eye rolls, but it helps. I keep a bottle of sea salt next to my bed so when I’m just fed up with my environment and feel like I need something fast to push away heavy, negative shit  I’ll grab a handful and just throw it. It also feels good to throw stuff across my room *shrug*

That’s all I’ve got for the moment, but I’m sure there are eight million other methods to cleansing that are easier on the spoons than a full house cleaning session. If anyone has methods of their own to add to this, please do! I’ll probably reblog as I see them :)